Argo takes entertaining liberties with Canadian legend

Former Canadian Ambassador Ken Taylor and his wife Pat, pose for photographers at the premiere of the film Argo in Washington, Wednesday, Oct. 10, 2012. Argo is based on covert operation to rescue six Americans during the Iran hostage crisis in 1979.Cliff Owen
/ AP

This film image released by Warner Bros. Pictures shows Bryan Cranston, left, as Jack OíDonnell and Ben Affleck as Tony Mendez in Argo, a rescue thriller about the 1979 Iranian hostage crisis.Claire Folger
/ AP

Ben Affleck as Tony Mendez in ARGO, a presentation of Warner Bros. Pictures in association with GK Films, to be distributed by Warner Bros. Pictures.Claire Folger
/ Claire Folger

Had Ken Taylor not risked his life concealing six American diplomats and gathering information for the CIA during Iran’s Islamic revolution in 1979, his recent mission to Los Angeles would probably rank as a much more noteworthy episode in his life.

But his Hollywood adventures just seem to pale by comparison.

Nevertheless, the Calgary-born former diplomat, who was Canadian ambassador to Iran from 1977 to 1979, achieved what many are seeing as a minor miracle last month when he convinced a major studio to change the postscript on one of this year’s most heavily hyped, Oscar-baiting films: Ben Affleck’s Argo.

The movie, directed by and starring Affleck, tells the story of the so-called Canadian caper that happened more than 30 years ago during the Iran hostage crisis. For Canadians, and Americans with long memories, Taylor was the heroic centre of the story when he helped shelter six American diplomats as revolution raged in the streets of Tehran. He was instrumental in hatching a complex plan that involved hiding the six in private residences before smuggling them out with the help of fake visas, disguises and a cover story that cast them as Hollywood producers scouting locations.

It was a good news story for a world otherwise preoccupied with the other 54 American embassy personnel that were still being held hostage by Iranian students. Taylor was heralded as a hero, both in Canada and the United States. Now, more than 30 years later, Hollywood has weighed with its version of the events with Argo, which opens today.

Unfortunately, as is often the case with Hollywood, Argo trumpets America’s involvement in the caper at the expense of other players, specifically the Canadian Embassy. But, as is perhaps less often the case with Hollywood, when Affleck learned the film may have given Canada, and Taylor in particular, short shrift, he invited the former ambassador and his wife to L.A. to watch the film and eventually make changes to the postscript.

“I don’t focus my views on my own involvement,” says Taylor, in an phone interview from his home in New York City. “The entire Canadian Embassy was at play. I don’t think it gives credit to Canada. And I made that pretty clear, I think.”

Of course, by the time Taylor and his wife Pat watched Argo in L.A. last month, the actual film couldn’t be changed.

So Affleck suggested Taylor rewrite the postscript, reportedly at considerable cost to the studio.

Initially, the postscript implied that Taylor received undue credit for sheltering and helping the six diplomats escape. The CIA, the film suggests, were the real heroes but chose not to take credit for fear of endangering the American hostages that remained in Iran. This is what greatly offended Taylor’s friends when the film had its high-profile premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival last month. Taylor, who is played by Canadian actor Victor Garber in the film, was not invited to walk the red carpet. But his friends made a fuss, which caught the attention of the Toronto Star and then the international media. So when Taylor finally saw the film with Affleck in L.A., he knew what to expect.

“The irony is that the Canadian personnel in Tehran took the risk, the ultimate risk,” says Taylor. “And then 30-some-odd years later we’re criticized (by the film) for taking the credit, when really it was all the CIA’s work. There’s a certain irony to it.”

Taylor rewrote the postscript to emphasize collaboration. According to the Toronto Star it now reads: “The involvement of the CIA complemented efforts of the Canadian Embassy to free the six held in Tehran. To this day the story stands as an enduring model of international co-operation between governments.”

Granted, this change does little to counterbalance the film’s portrayal of the CIA as the real heroes. But the ever-diplomatic Taylor says it was a significant gesture by Affleck, who did not write the screenplay and seemed genuinely concerned that his film might offend Canadians.

Earlier this week, Taylor went to Washington for the movie’s premiere, which was also to include a private screening and reception at the Canadian Embassy. According to media reports, Affleck praised him on the red carpet before the screening, suggesting he was “a very clear hero.”

Taylor now sees himself as playing an important role as the film gets wider release.

“The movie, of course, is all done,” he says. “So I think at this point I’ve been trying to find a balance, not that I’m going to visit everybody who goes to the movie but in a general sense, to better proportion the roles of Canada and the United States in the event.”

Taylor grew up in Calgary during the 1930s and 1940s and began his diplomatic career in 1951 as a trade counsellor in Guatemala, Pakistan and The U.K. Those of a certain age will certainly remember the now-famous 1979 image of him with curly hair and owlish glasses; the quiet Canadian hero who helped save the lives of six diplomats at significant risk to himself. Just over two years ago, he was back in the spotlight. Robert Wright’s 2010 book Our Man in Tehran: Ken Taylor, the CIA and the Iran Hostage Crisis revealed for the first time that he not only sheltered the six diplomats but was also the “de facto CIA station chief” who actively gathered intelligence for the agency.

Taylor co-operated with Wright on the book and even joined him on publicity rounds after it was published. It remains the definitive account of the Canadian caper, Taylor says.

Comments

We encourage all readers to share their views on our articles and blog posts. We are committed to maintaining a lively but civil forum for discussion, so we ask you to avoid personal attacks, and please keep your comments relevant and respectful. If you encounter a comment that is abusive, click the "X" in the upper right corner of the comment box to report spam or abuse. We are using Facebook commenting. Visit our FAQ page for more information.

Almost Done!

Postmedia wants to improve your reading experience as well as share the best deals and promotions from our advertisers with you. The information below will be used to optimize the content and make ads across the network more relevant to you. You can always change the information you share with us by editing your profile.

By clicking "Create Account", I hearby grant permission to Postmedia to use my account information to create my account.

I also accept and agree to be bound by Postmedia's Terms and Conditions with respect to my use of the Site and I have read and understand Postmedia's Privacy Statement. I consent to the collection, use, maintenance, and disclosure of my information in accordance with the Postmedia's Privacy Policy.

Postmedia wants to improve your reading experience as well as share the best deals and promotions from our advertisers with you. The information below will be used to optimize the content and make ads across the network more relevant to you. You can always change the information you share with us by editing your profile.

By clicking "Create Account", I hearby grant permission to Postmedia to use my account information to create my account.

I also accept and agree to be bound by Postmedia's Terms and Conditions with respect to my use of the Site and I have read and understand Postmedia's Privacy Statement. I consent to the collection, use, maintenance, and disclosure of my information in accordance with the Postmedia's Privacy Policy.